Next doesn’t have anything going for it

Friday

May 4, 2007 at 12:01 AMMay 4, 2007 at 4:03 AM

If ever there was an example of a throwaway action film, Next is it. The screenplay, based on the work of sci-fi master Philip K. Dick, regardless of how many chases and gunfights, is average and has been turned into a minor film that will be out of the theaters within weeks.

If ever there was an example of a throwaway action film, Next is it. The screenplay, based on the work of sci-fi master Philip K. Dick, regardless of how many chases and gunfights, is average and has been turned into a minor film that will be out of the theaters within weeks.

Cage is Cris, a man who, since he was a young boy, can see into the future. The catch is he can only see two minutes into the future. Taking up magic, he becomes a Las Vegas magician. Even though he has kept a very low profile, all think his gift is a trick. The government finds out about him. They get FBI agent Callie Ferris to try to persuade him to help track down a nuclear bomb that has been smuggled into the country. Simple, right? The story should end there. After all, why wouldn’t Cris want to save millions of people? Well, for some vague reason he doesn’t. As a result, Next turns into a chase film, because not only does the government know about him, but the terrorists do as well. There is also a love interest played blandly by Biel. It’s not her fault; it’s the script. Cris isn’t the only one that can see ahead. The audience, for this film, will be even better at figuring out everything, including a hostage situation and of course the action shootout final.

So is anything actually original in Next? Not one single thing. Sure, plenty of action films recycle whole sections from other films, but many are at least fun. Here, with a cast that has absolutely no connection, it’s a tough haul. Cage needs to take a break, not just from action films, but a complete break. He’s going through the motions here, and he gives a bland performance. Moore is stuck with a one-dimensional tough FBI agent character. Falk is wasted in a cameo.

Director Tamahori, who did great work in the James Bond film Die Another Day, is efficient enough in the action sequences and there are plenty of them, but it all feels like much the same with no one sequence standing out. The CGI work is fair at best considering this is a major film.

Next doesn’t have anything going for it. With less than average performances and effects to go along with routine action, it will quickly hit the DVD bins.

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